Classic of Purity and Stillness
This short religious text describes inner clarification and the diminishing of desire. Its reflection on the Dao connects ritual reading with a transformation of attention.
Understanding the text
A work of medieval Daoist tradition, it is traditionally associated with Laozi but cannot be assigned to the ancient figure as its historical author.
Key points
- 01
Clarity
Purity describes an orientation of the mind rather than a material possession.
- 02
Desire
The text examines how attachment disturbs perception and action.
- 03
Practice
Its ritual transmission differs from that of a modern philosophical treatise.
How to read it
Compare this later scripture with the Dao De Jing without conflating centuries and religious settings.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗